Clipped Wings [Black Butler]

His teacher, Enduring

"I don't wanna sleep!" Ciel complained as he tugged at the ends of his bed duvet, pouting as Ira covered and tucked him once more. His bright peacock-blue eyes staring at Ira defiantly and crossed his arms over his chest. It reminded the caretaker of the boy's father, so much. "Tomorrow's my birthday, and it wouldn't harm anyone if I were to stay up for a moment more!" The child continues to whine, as he stared up at his caretaker. 

"Now, Ciel, as much as I love to indulge your needs and desires, bedtime isn't something I can change," Ira said as he bends down, moving his eye level with the child, a smile revealing itself. "Though, if you were to request a bedtime story, then perhaps I can negotiate the rules." Ira smiles as Ciel's smiled up at him, just pure beaming. 

"Yes, please!" Ciel said as he points to one of the books on his shelf, "I want to read Alice in Wonderland." Ira stands up, sliding the dark book with a small white rabbit on the cover. Alice In Wonderland, Ciel enjoyed it very much, always wanting him or Madam Rachel to read it every time. Ira should know the book by heart by now, though the expressions Ciel gave when he reads it, made him happy. The look of curiosity, interest, and amazement, the expressions that Ira found endearing the most. 

The expressions made Ira happy, especially when Ciel gave them.

Ira sat at the edge of the bed, opening to the first page of the book, and parted his lips to talk when Ciel interrupted him.

"Ira, what did you get me for my birthday?" Ciel asked as Ira chuckled as his purple eyes stared at the bright-eyed child. "Mother and Father are gonna take me out for the evening as a gift, along with Mother reading me all my favorite stories for a gift."

"Oh? Such a day of merry for you, what would you wish from me then? A new book? A new pair of clothes?" Ira asked as he looked at the young boy, who seemed to think about it before his face lights up.

"I want a dessert, cookies!" Ciel said as licked his lips at the thought of the sweets that Ira would surely make. " I want them all to myself as well! I love Mother and Father, but they wouldn't let me eat desserts all for myself."

"Oh really? Well, what about me Ciel, may I have a cookie for your birthday?" Ira asked, almost playfully begging as the child thinks it over for a moment. "Oh, how mean."

"Okay! I suppose a cookie for you is possible." Ciel said, nodding his head before leaning against one of the pillows behind him. "Now, please read the book!"

"Alright, calm down Ciel, you'll start your asthma from your excitement." Ira chuckles as he stared down at the page, a smile coming to his lips at the ideas of what cookies he should make.

I know, homemade chocolate chip cookies, he would surely go wild over those cookies. He and his sweet tooth, knowing him, would eat them all within minutes.

"Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, "and what is the use of a book," thought Alice "without pictures or conversations?""

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Ira couldn't breathe, he jolts up from his bed from the smell of smoke and ash entering his lungs. He noticed the black smoke coming from the door, opening it, and gasped as fire nearly caught him. He shields his face as the fire began eating up the curtains and paintings, though his eyes snapped wide when he heard the panicked and scared voice of his Young Master.

"MOTHER! FATHER! ANYONE!?"

"Ciel!" Ira gasped as he began hurrying towards the direction of the child. Ira felt his lungs burn with each breath he took, his eyes blurry and irritated from the smoke and fire. He kept rushing through, even as his sleeping pants caught fire a bit, but ignored the slight pain as he heard Ciel's cries of terror.

"IRA! IRA PLEASE! PLEASE HELP ME!"

Ira hears the screams of the child he raised and stops when he saw a moving figure come towards him. His arms open to catch Ciel, and once the tiny body found its way towards him, he hugged him and lifts the child. He pressed his face into his shoulder, trying to stop any smoke from entering his lungs. His death surely would be the asthma attack. Ira coughs as he tries to locate the hallways that would lead to the back entrance of the manor, moving to the right of the hallway. 

"Ira, Ira-"

Ciel tries but Ira was too focused on the task at hand; getting them out of there.

"Mother, Father-"

"Hush, stop speaking Ciel, the more air you take, the more smoke that enters your lungs," Ira commanded, though there was a whimper from a boy nothing much. Ira advanced forwards, as he reached into his pocket, grasping the fan with his free hand. The fire had deteriorated the pillars and the ceiling, pieces of wood breaking apart in front of them. Adjusting the hold of Ciel, Ira opened the fan. The white rabbit flashing as he swings his arm forwards, a gust of wind breaking apart the brunt piece of wood. The wind blew away some fire as Ira advanced forwards and down another hallway. His eyes widen as he noticed another figure at the end.

"Tanaka!"

"Sir Gordon! Young Master-" Tanaka began as Ira hears a crackle and wood breaking above. He looked up just to see a piece of burning wood falling upon them, with whatever strength he had left, throws Ciel at Tanaka as the wood falls upon him. Ira winced as the fire burns his back and pain shooting up from his back. He watched Tanaka clumsily catch Ciel, almost dropping the boy but tried to walk to Ira.

"NO! Tanaka you need to leave, I'll...I'll be okay." Ira said as he looked up, catching the old man's eyes. "I'll be okay, you need to take Ciel and leave-" More wood fallen on him, a wince came upon his features. "I'll be okay!"

Tanaka looked at the man before hurrying the other way as more smoke pour around them. Ira looked at his figure and pressed his face against the carpet. The smoke was finally getting to him, but so did the smell of something else, something tangy and yet so bitter on his lips. Though, Ira supposed it was time for his passing, as much as it hurts, this must be his final-

"AGH! NO TANAKA!"

Ciel lets out a sharp cry and Ira flinches as he moved, but the pile on his back and limbs had him pinned. Ira tried moving, shifting but coughs, as he looked at the direction of the two.

"Ciel...please...don't hurt.." Ira gasped as breathing began to hurt and he felt gone slack. His face pressed against the carpet as dark dots danced in his vision. No wings, no sword..nothing of use but his voice. Though, with it, it would bring the whole manor down. Killing not only himself but Ciel.

I'll find you, Ciel, even if it takes me years..

Ira felt his eyes flutter shut and everything went numb.